Pethor is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the context of the narrative involving Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet. The town is primarily noted for being the home of Balaam, the son of Beor, who was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.

Biblical References:

The primary reference to Pethor is found in the Book of Numbers. In Numbers 22:5 , it states: "Balak sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people." This verse situates Pethor geographically near the Euphrates River, indicating its location in the region of Mesopotamia, which is modern-day Iraq.

Historical and Geographical Context:

Pethor is believed to have been a significant city in ancient Mesopotamia, possibly located near the confluence of the Sajur River and the Euphrates. The mention of the Euphrates suggests that Pethor was part of a broader cultural and economic network that thrived in this fertile region. The city's proximity to the Euphrates would have made it a strategic location for trade and communication.

Role in the Balaam Narrative:

The narrative of Balaam and Balak is a pivotal account in the Book of Numbers, chapters 22 to 24. Balak, fearing the encroaching Israelites, seeks Balaam's services to curse them. Balaam's journey from Pethor to Moab is marked by divine interventions, including the famous incident involving Balaam's donkey, which sees an angel of the Lord blocking the path (Numbers 22:21-35).

Despite Balak's insistence and the promise of rewards, Balaam is ultimately unable to curse the Israelites. Instead, he delivers a series of oracles that bless Israel, as God had instructed him. Numbers 23:8 records Balaam's words: "How can I curse what God has not cursed? How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?"

Theological Significance:

Pethor's mention in the Bible underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and the futility of opposing His will. Balaam, despite being a renowned seer from Pethor, is compelled to speak only what God commands, highlighting the divine authority over human intentions and actions. This narrative serves as a reminder of God's protection over His chosen people and His ability to use even those outside the covenant community to fulfill His purposes.

Extra-Biblical References:

While Pethor is not extensively documented outside the biblical text, some scholars have attempted to identify it with Pitru, a city mentioned in Assyrian records. However, definitive archaeological evidence linking Pethor to a specific site remains elusive.

In summary, Pethor is a significant location in the biblical narrative, primarily due to its association with Balaam. Its mention highlights the broader cultural interactions of the ancient Near East and serves as a backdrop for a account that emphasizes God's unassailable will and the blessings upon Israel.Pethor

(soothsayer), a town of Mesopotamia, where Balaam resided, and situated "upon the river," possibly the Euphrates. (Numbers 22:5; 23:4) Its position is wholly unknown.

Interpretation of dreams, identified with Pitru, on the west bank of the Euphrates, a few miles south of the Hittite capital of Carchemish (Numbers 22:5, "which is by the river of the land of the children of [the god] Ammo"). (see BALAAM.) PETHOR

pe'-thor (pethor; Phathoura, Bathoura): The dwelling-place of Balaam, situated on "the river" (the Euphrates) (Numbers 22:5).13). This is Paradise restored. We have sure ground for the expectancy; the last two chapters of Re contain the prophetic fulfillment: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more." The accomplishment of these sublime predictions will involve a fundamental change in the constitution of the globe. Life would be impossible if the sea was no more. But He who made the world can surely recreate it, clearing it of every vestige of sin and misery and imperfection, fitting it for the dwelling of perfect beings and of His supreme glory. Immanuel will dwell with the holy inhabitants of the new earth and in the new Jerusalem which is to descend into the glorified planet. John is bidden, "Write, for the predictions are faithful and true; they shall not fail to come to pass."

1. Possibly the Asyrian Pitru:

In Deuteronomy 23:4, it is further described as being in Mesopotamia (Aram-naharaim). Pethor is identified with the Pedru(i) of the geographical lists of Thothmes III (circa 1500 B.C.) and the Pitru (Pithru) of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser II, who states that in his 3rd year (857 B.C.) he took the city Ana-Assur-utir-acbat (meaning: "I founded (it) anew for Assur"), which the Hattaa (Hittites) called Pitru. He says that it lay on the farther (western) bank of the Euphrates, by the Sagurru or Sagura River, the modern Sajur. The importance of Pitru is indicated by the fact that he received there the tribute of the kings of Carchemish, Comagene, Melitene and other districts.

2. Difficulties of Identification:

As Pitru is about 400 miles from Moab, this meant for Balaam a three or four weeks' journey, but the messengers sent to fetch him, though they had to travel that distance twice, could naturally, by pressing their mounts, have performed it much less time. Doubt may likewise be entertained as to the identity of Pethor with Pitru by the absence in the latter of the o, which would lead one to expect rather the Assyrian form Pit(h)uru. Shalmaneser, however, says that Pitru was the Hittite name, and that may account for it. With regard to the derivation, nothing can at present be said, except that, as a Hittite name, Tomkins (Records of the Past, V (London, 1891), 38) has compared the name Pitru with the Pteria of Herodotus i.76 (identified with Bog-haz-keui, the great Hittite capital in Cappadocia, in ancient times called Hattu).

T. G. Pinches

903. Balaam -- Balaam, an unrighteous prophet
... Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Balaam Phonetic Spelling: (bal-ah-am')
Short Definition: Balaam Definition: Balaam, son of Beor of Pethor on the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/903.htm - 6k6604a. Pethor -- home of Balaam
... 6604, 6604a. Pethor. 6604b . home of Balaam. Transliteration: Pethor Short
Definition: Pethor. Word Origin of foreign origin Definition ...
/hebrew/6604a.htm - 5k

6604. Pthowr -- home of Balaam
... 6603, 6604. Pthowr. 6604a . home of Balaam. Transliteration: Pthowr Phonetic
Spelling: (peth-ore') Short Definition: Pethor. Pethor ...
/hebrew/6604.htm - 5k

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River,
to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

Balaam
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERS BALAAM. 'He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of
Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/balaam.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... When the Israelites encamped in "the plain of Moab," Balak, the Moabite king, sent
in terror to Balaam, the seer of Pethor. He had indeed cause for alarm. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... an invader, sent him presents, which included a crocodile and a hippopotamus, and
on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, near Carchemish and Pethor, he hunted ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Infallibility of God's Purpose
... But on the mountain range there were two men"Balak, the son of Zippor,
king of the Moabites, and Balaam the prophet of Pethor. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the infallibility of gods purpose.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. <. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

Divine Grace.
... the river Arnon. Balaam also had his dwelling in his city Pethor, by the
river of the land of the children of his people. O, by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/vi divine grace.htm

The Water of Life;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the water of life.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Pethor (2 Occurrences)
...PETHOR. pe'-thor (pethor; Phathoura, Bathoura): The dwelling-place of Balaam,
situated on "the river" (the Euphrates) (Numbers 22:5).13). ...
/p/pethor.htm - 10k

Beor (11 Occurrences)
... Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by
the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying ...
/b/beor.htm - 11k

Be'or (11 Occurrences)
... Numbers 22:5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by
the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying ...
/b/be'or.htm - 9k

Balaam (62 Occurrences)
... He resided at Pethor (Deuteronomy 23:4), in Mesopotamia (Numbers 23:7). It is evident
that though dwelling among idolaters he had some knowledge of the true God ...
/b/balaam.htm - 38k

Kirjath-huzoth (1 Occurrence)
... Balak here received and entertained Balaam, whom he had invited from Pethor, among
the "mountains of the east," beyond the Euphrates, to lay his ban upon the ...
/k/kirjath-huzoth.htm - 7k

Kirjathhuzoth (1 Occurrence)
... Balak here received and entertained Balaam, whom he had invited from Pethor, among
the "mountains of the east," beyond the Euphrates, to lay his ban upon the ...
/k/kirjathhuzoth.htm - 7k

Naharaim (5 Occurrences)
... not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because
they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia ...
/n/naharaim.htm - 8k

Jambres (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jambres.htm - 11k

Jannes (2 Occurrences)
... and anachronisms. They are to the effect that Jannes and Jambres were
sons of Balaam, the soothsayer of Pethor. Notwithstanding ...
/j/jannes.htm - 10k

Revile (28 Occurrences)
... before you with bread and with water in the way, in your coming out from Egypt,
and because he hath hired against thee Balaam son of Beor, of Pethor of Aram ...
/r/revile.htm - 14k

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